Woman Dies While Diving Near Seven Mile Bridge In Keys

MARATHON (CBSMiami) – A woman died Thursday while diving, Monroe County officials said.

The dive took place off of Seven Mile Bridge around 2 p.m. on a private boat.

According to investigators, 36-year-old Melissa Fellows of Miramar was set up to dive for lobster using a hookah apparatus, which is a type of equipment used for diving.

Fellows’ dive buddy told a deputy that the hoses from the rig got wrapped around a piling. As he tried to free it, he said the air shut off and he surfaced. Fellows did not surface until a short time later when she was reportedly face down in the water and not breathing.

CPR was used on the boat by the people on board.

Fellows’ husband, 32-year-old Wayne Fellows was on board the boat.

Fellows was taken to the Sunset Grill on Knights Key.

An ambulance took her to Fisherman’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead.